How to Participate

Voting

Regular members of TEAC with candidate, initial, provisional, preaccreditation, new program, or continuing accreditation status have a single vote, which may be cast at official meetings. The members may take action on any matter related to TEAC’s operation, but they may not, by action as a group, determine the accreditation status of any member or modify any aspect of the accreditation process itself. Members may vote on proposals to recommend modification in TEAC accreditation standards, fees, and processes; TEAC’s Board of Directors are assigned voting responsibilities on such issues. Affiliate members of TEAC have no voting rights, but are encouraged to participate in discussions of the merits of any proposal before the members and may serve on non-standing committees.

Inquiry Committees

For the purpose of their participation in the governance and activities of TEAC, the members of the program faculty, or faculties, are encouraged to form Inquiry Committees, composed of representatives of all groups that play a role in the programs, for example:

Education faculty and arts & science faculty who regularly teach in the program,

P-12 teachers and administrators who serve as clinical educators,

Members of local professional associations,

School board members,

State education agency officials,

Educational policy-makers and legislators, and

Other local groups that have a stake in the quality of the program and its graduates,

Students in the program.

The chair of the Inquiry Committee would be expected to cast the member’s vote on behalf of the program and institution, but that matter is left to the institution. The Inquiry Committee members are considered affiliate members of TEAC and attend TEAC Annual Meetings.

Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the members of TEAC is primarily a forum for the Inquiry Committee members and others to learn from each other about new and creative ways of addressing the three TEAC quality principles and developing a compelling Inquiry Brief. The meeting provides opportunities to discuss pertinent scholarship and research findings that relate to TEAC’s purposes and mission. The Annual Meeting agenda includes a business meeting for the members and for the Board of Directors.